On reaching Egypt we realized all beautiful things are never perfect and we liked them just the way the ruins were. It made us realize there is nothing impossible for mankind right from structuring Pyramids to preserving the dead.
Visa, Transportation and basic information:
- Riju & me hold Indian passports so had to get our Visas(32$ per person) done prior to departure. It also depends from where you are travelling as Egypt also allows Visa on Arrival for some passport holders. Please check with your local Egyptian Embassy.
- We traveled from Kenya through Egypt Air and landed around 10.30 am. The immigration process was hassle free.
- ATMs are easily available across, so no need of carrying excessive cash.
- Greeting with ‘Shukhran’(meaning thank you) will be a polite gesture towards everyone.
- Best Time to Visit to Egypt is definitely winters(Nov – Jan) because during summers you will find yourselves inside a burning oven. Note: Make sure you make a mindful packing of your winter essentials as it gets really chilly and windy at night.
- Please note: Travelling on your own is absolutely safe and secure in Egypt. You may come across various misconceptions and biased opinions but make sure you travel miles to make memories in the ancient history without a second thought!
Communication & Transportation:
- Transportation is easily accessible in Egypt, be it trains(Overnight , Day Trains) to hiring cabs(Careem) to bus service(GoBus).
- You can download Careem app from play store which is pocket friendly and widely available as compared to Uber service.
- Useful Tips: In Egypt the numbers are in local digits so you might find it a bit difficult to spot your booked car. We would recommend to follow the following chart.
- Once you land in Cairo you can easily get your hands on local SIM just after baggage collection inside the airport itself of Vodafone/Orange Network Carrier, so you can choose. We preferred using Vodafone which costed us 250 EGP for 10 GB data and talk time for a month(120 mins).
Accommodation
- Travelling on budget depends on various factors like what are the grandeur and comfort you look forward to a particular holiday. It also depends on types of hotel, renting cars lifestyle etc. Budgeted accommodation plays an important role in pocket and for that we would recommend you to check out some Airbnb properties which are comfortable and relatively economical.
- Our homestay in Cairo: From the airport it took us 45 mins to reach by cab. Our host Nermine was an extremely warm hearted lady and she provided us with all basic information during our stay for 2 nights. The terrace view of the property overlooking the Pyramids was out of the blue(We enjoyed our breakfast every morning right there). Pyramids are just a walking distance away with many cafes and bakeries to delight your taste bud.
- Our homestay in Aswan: This Nubian House is on the Elephantine Island on River Nile. You need to catch a ferry(5 EGP) to reach Elephantine Island and then have to be on foot for 10 mins to reach the house(No medium of transportation is available in the village). Our host Fatma is a local tour guide and she will assist you in all possible ways. Her mother was a joyous lady and excellent chef who made us delicious Nubian platter every day. Fatma’s father holds a passion for museum collection and has built a Nubian Museum within his boundary. Sounds interesting right?
- Where we stayed in Luxor: Coming out from the Railway station it takes 15mins(walking) to reach the ferry boarding(10 EGP) on the West bank. Reaching the East bank we hired a local tempo(it was damn funny) and reached our stay in 5mins(Walk of 15mins). We didn’t have high expectations but we were happy with basic necessities we got. The terrace had a faraway view of Valley of The Kings.
- Our homestay in Hurghada: On reaching we met our attendant Mohammed at the pick-up point who was extremely kind and friendly. He also made sure we were provided with all necessities during our stay. We were excited as the room had a fresh view of the Red Sea straight through the window and it was close to Hurghada City Center mall and easy access to beaches just by crossing the road.
Egypt’s Highlight Delight
Cairo:
- The Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
- Egyptian Museum
- Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- Khan – El – Khalili(flea market)
- Coptic Cairo
- Step Pyramids(Optional – wasn’t on our list)
Aswan:
- Philae Temple
- Felucca Ride
- Abu Simbel Temple
- Old Souk(market)
- Temple of Kom Ombo & Edfu(Optional – wasn’t on our list)
Luxor:
- Karnak Temple
- Valley of The Kings
- Luxor Temple
- Temple of Hatshepsut & Luxor Museum(Optional – wasn’t on our list)
Hurghada:
- Scuba Diving
- Giftun Island & Snorkeling
- Marina Hurghada
- Al Mina Mosque
- Davinci & Old Vic Beach
Don’ts:
- Egypt is quite busy and crowded and you will find many local vendors approaching you to sell their products and also may ask you to follow them towards their shop so please don’t fall for those. And the trick is definitely to avoid eye contacts.
- Showing public affections should be avoided respecting the religious sentiments.
Budget:
- Accommodation: Per day 20 – 30$ approx. for 2 pax
- Food: Meal cost 7-8$ per person
- Local Train: 2$ per person(Aswan – Luxor)
- Night Sleeper Train: 80$ per person(Cairo – Aswan)
- Bus – 10$ per person(Luxor to Hurghada) and 15$ per person(Hurghada to Cairo)
- Cab(Careem): 5$-8$ for a 40mins ride
- Entry Fee to pyramids, temple & museums: 10$ – 15$
Providing you the overview of Egypt in 5 mins. Hope it’s helpful for whoever wants a quick scroll!!
